Post Office - Passport renewal - Digital check & send good?

DullGreyGuy

howryoo said:

Thanks for further replies.

The passport office says the photo should be within the past month, but what if it's out by a week or two?  Are their systems that clever to tell when it was taken?  Properties in the file uploaded?

Those who've sent back old passports - did you just use a bog standard envelope or did you use cardboard / do not bend or jiffy envelopes?

I assume I could just buy a suitable one over the counter at the Post Office whilst paying for the postage service (is it a label they'll print off which sticks onto the envelope?

You can tell I don't use the PO much!

It wouldnt need to be clever to read the meta data from the file but I'd be surprised if they do and this data can be changed anyway so not hard to circumvent if you wanted. 

I happened to use a cardboard backed one simply because I've a dozen or more and no non-cardboard ones. 

Most postoffice state you have to buy the stationary first and then write on it etc but that means queuing twice but inevitably varies by office... ours just give you a lecture when you say you have to pay for the envelope too having already filled it 

howryoo

baser999 said:

I sent mine back in an old Amazon ‘cardboard’ envelope, blocking out their logos. 

Thanks for the tip - might do that if I find a decent enough one!

howryoo

DullGreyGuy said:

howryoo said:

Thanks for further replies.

The passport office says the photo should be within the past month, but what if it's out by a week or two?  Are their systems that clever to tell when it was taken?  Properties in the file uploaded?

Those who've sent back old passports - did you just use a bog standard envelope or did you use cardboard / do not bend or jiffy envelopes?

I assume I could just buy a suitable one over the counter at the Post Office whilst paying for the postage service (is it a label they'll print off which sticks onto the envelope?

You can tell I don't use the PO much!

It wouldnt need to be clever to read the meta data from the file but I'd be surprised if they do and this data can be changed anyway so not hard to circumvent if you wanted. 

I happened to use a cardboard backed one simply because I've a dozen or more and no non-cardboard ones. 

Most postoffice state you have to buy the stationary first and then write on it etc but that means queuing twice but inevitably varies by office... ours just give you a lecture when you say you have to pay for the envelope too having already filled it 

So the one month limit is guidance I suppose without them being able to ascertain?

I thought I'd be able to walk up to the PO counter, ask them to print off a label for HMPO office, pay for that & postage, stick the passport into envelope and slap that label on.  I guess not, but I assume they'll be able to print off an address label with paid postage to affix to envelope?

diystarter7

Hi
Use online. I took my own pics - a few were refused but they acted within mintues. I got the 5th lot approved.

It was easy as we had the newer passports before.

Sae the 16 quid

Thanks

diystarter7

Btw, my pics were doe with an old phone - the day was sunny and bright and we have white walls and south facing and glass wall - so i closed a curtain and it did the trick.

They can only say no and its quick.

smudge56

howryoo said:

Thanks for further replies.

The passport office says the photo should be within the past month, but what if it's out by a week or two?  Are their systems that clever to tell when it was taken?  Properties in the file uploaded?

Those who've sent back old passports - did you just use a bog standard envelope or did you use cardboard / do not bend or jiffy envelopes?

I assume I could just buy a suitable one over the counter at the Post Office whilst paying for the postage service (is it a label they'll print off which sticks onto the envelope?

You can tell I don't use the PO much!

If you get your photo done in a booth and enter the code it should go through automatically without rejection. Post your passport in a strong envelope like a jiffy envelope as Royal Mail seem to like chewing up the flimsy envelopes and losing the passport.  Make sure you put the PEX number on the front of the envelope.  That is your reference number if you have check your application progress.

sandsy

Did my daughter's online at end of December. Don't see the value in PO service. Used mobile phone for the picture against a light coloured wall. It checks it online and tells you if it's likely to be accepted. Sent old passport back in a brown A5 sized envelope, paid for signed for. New and old passports were back in under 2 weeks, despite New Year's Day bank holiday.

howryoo

Thanks for further replies.  I guess Signed For is adequate, thus no need for Tracked service?

poppystar

howryoo said:

Thanks for further replies.  I guess Signed For is adequate, thus no need for Tracked service?

PO tried to get me to use fully tracked - woman even wrote on my signed for receipt that I’d been advised to use the pricier service! It was fine with signed for although it took an extra day (posted Wed signed for FRI). Standard envelope with an extra piece of paper wrapped round passport - no problem. Find the advise on sending your passport back that it should be in a ‘right sized envelope’ quite amusing and unhelpful. Do remember to put your correct PEX reference on.